Gordon Towan

Gordon Towan
Personal information
Date of birth (1954-03-24) 24 March 1954
Original team(s) ANZ Bank / Preston
Height/Weight 188 cm / 83 kg
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1982 Collingwood 2 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to end of 1982 season.

Gordon Towan (born 24 March 1954) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]

Early VFA career

Towan spent four years playing for amateur club ANZ Bank, before commencing at Victorian Football Association (VFA) side Preston in 1978.[2] He was used as a full-back by Preston.[3]

Collingwood

In the 1982 VFL season, with Tom Hafey coached Collingwood having a slow start to the season, winning just one of their first seven games, a decision was made to approach 28-year-old Towan, who had previously spent a pre-season at the club.[3] He was cleared by Preston in time for Collingwood's round eight fixture against the Sydney Swans, but he instead played in the reserves.[4] The following week, against Hawthorn at Victoria Park, Towan was selected to make his debut.[3] He played as a back pocket and at times was matched up against Gary Buckenara and a young Gary Ablett.[5] Collingwood's next game was at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where Towan made his second VFL appearance, in a seven-point loss to Melbourne.[3] Hafey was sacked two days later and replaced by Mick Erwin. Towan was one of the casualties at the selection table, dropped for Collingwood's round 11 game against St Kilda. Three weeks later he was back playing with Preston.[6]

Back at Preston

He continued at Preston in 1983 and despite battling a hamstring injury was picked in the team which defeated Geelong West in that year's VFA Grand Final.[7][8] He retired from playing at the end of 1986, and played a total of 116 games for Preston. He later served as president of the club.[9]

In 1984 he was appointed coach of Reservoir-Lakeside.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
  2. ↑ The Age, "Magpies look to Towan to make the big leap", 13 May 1982, p. 30
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Gordon Towan". AFL Tables.
  4. ↑ The Age, "Richmond picks Brewer", 14 May 1982, p. 28
  5. ↑ Coodabeen Champions Footy Show Podcast 2009-07-11
  6. ↑ The Age, "Towan back at Preston", 25 June 1982, p. 29
  7. ↑ The Age, "Bullants rally for first flag in 14 years", 19 September 1983, p. 23
  8. ↑ "When the Bullants were Shaw Things". Northern Blues.
  9. ↑ Linda Pearce (15 July 1988). "Grand dilemma". The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, VIC). p. 65.
  10. ↑ The Age, "Preston ranks thinned", 28 March 1984, p. 35
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